51st State Ideas I The Next Phase of the 51st State: Utility Operating Environment and Business Models in the Energy Cloud (Navigant)

51st State Ideas I The Next Phase of the 51st State: Utility Operating Environment and Business Models in the Energy Cloud (Navigant)

  • Energy Sector tipping points
  • Evolving business model and new regulatory model
  • Critical design considerations to create the 51st State

Navigant Envisions Utilities as the foundational platform of the Energy Cloud

The utility is the enabling platform of the “Energy Cloud”, Navigant’s vision of the distributed grid. In this role, the utility is intended to be the “enabler” of third party interconnections, and optimizer of diverse business models. Fittingly, it is also the owner of the grid’s physical infrastructure with a vital role to plan and operate a digital, intelligent network. In Navigant’s vision, there are future pathways for states to consider that range from a pure platform model where revenues are regulated and all services above the physical infrastructure are competitive, to a mixed platform model where both utilities and third parties vie for the grid edge market.

Authors: David O’Brien, Mackinnon Lawrence, and Ted Walker; Navigant

This report was not written by or originated from any member of SEPA staff and SEPA does not endorse any opinions expressed in this paper.

51st State Ideas I The Next Phase of the 51st State: Utility Operating Environment and Business Models in the Energy Cloud

Research report